HOW TO BUILD AN INSECT TRAP

Forensic Science Project

Instructions:

1. To build an insect trap you will need the following materials:

• a tin can (coffee size)
• a funnel (that fits inside the can)
• some pieces of wood (3 or 4 pieces about 10 - 15 cm high and thin enough to raise the can above ground
• plastic bag
• a can of cat food
• some form of adhesive material like glue or tape

2. To assemble your trap follow the procedure below:

1. Make sure both ends of your tin can have been taken off
2. Place your funnel into your can so that it fits tightly. The lip of the funnel should be about halfway down the can
3. Attach the pieces of wood to the can so that the can is elevated off the ground. If possible a groove could be cut onto the face of the wood so that the tin can sits in the groove. Make sure your can of cat food can fit under the can and there is still 2 - 4 cm clearance between the top of the cat food can the the bottom of the tin can
4. Attach the plastic bag over the other end of the can
5. Your insect trap is ready to be safely placed in the position of your choice.

3. The diagram below is to assist you in the assembly of your insect trap. You may find that your trap doesn't look exactly like the diagram. That's O.K. If your not sure if it will work, please check with your teacher.

The trap you have made is designed to capture insects in two places. The first place is in the cat food the second is in the plastic bag. The food acts like the dead animal flesh and attracts insects to lay their eggs. You will be able to identify the larval stages of the insect in the food. The plastic bag captures the flies because after the flies leave the cat food they naturally fly straight up. Going through the funnel they get trapped in the plastic bag.

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